Deputy Governor of Riyadh Province Prince Sattam bin Abdulaziz today inaugurated the 1425 Riyadh International Conference for Communications and Information Technology. In his address, Prince Sattam commented that in line with its policy of economic reform, the government of Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Fahd bin Abdulaziz has paid special attention to the sector of communications and information technology, and encouraged its privatization. This, he said, had led to the establishment of the highly successful Saudi Telecommunications Company (STC). Licenses to other companies dealing in cellular, data, and other services are being issued.

Earlier, Minister of Communications and Information Technology Muhammad Mullah opened the 2004 Saudi Communications Exhibition. In a press statement, he referred to a timetable for commercial competition for mobile phones this year, telephone lines by 2006, and other services by the start of 2007.